Device for operating car couplers



Aug. 10 ,1926.

I A. E. SMALL DEVICE FOR omaume CAR COUPLEERS Ffil d Oct; 8. 1924 I frwenlor:

A ni-neg.

Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

TUNHTED STATES PATENT orrics.

ARTHUR E. SMALL, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION METAL ?RODIICTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR COUPLERS.

Application filed October 8, 1924. Serial No. 742,395.

This particular invention relates to what is generally known in the art as a rotating type of uncoupling device for car couplers and comprises an operating rod revolubly mounted on the car with brackets or in any other convenient manner, which rod is usually bent downwardly at the outer end to form a handle, and is bent outwardly at its inner end to form a crank projecting over the coupler lock lifter. The standard vertical plane coupler has a knuckle pivoted to the coupler head and provided with a tail behind which the lock is placed. The lock lifter protrudes through and above the coupler head and is provided with a hori- 'zontally positioned eye. This lock lifter eye is 1 in diameter and its axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal center of the car. This size and position has been determined by the American Railroad Association and is standard for the majority of couplers now in service. I 1

My invention resides in the connection between the crankof the operating rod and the eye on the coupler lock lifter. hen the handle is raised the rod is revolved and the crank is thereby raised which unlocks the coupler by raising the lock lifter.

The coupler moves backwarly and forwardly longitudinally of the car in buiiing and draft and also moves sidewise in rounding curves, etc., and the connection between the coupler and the operating rod must pers mit such movements without the component parts becoming disengaged from each other or from either the coupler or the operating rod. It is frequently necessary to uncouple cars when they are coupled together and in contact so that it is impossible to throw the knuckle of either .coupler. To meet this condition couplers are designed to assume a lock set position wherein the lock lifter can be raised frombehind the tail of the knuckle and retained in such a position by means within the head of the coupler inclependent of the operating rod. This allows the operating rod to fall close to the lock lifter. To accommodate such a movement the connection between the operating rod crank and the coupler must fore-shorten or have a sliding engagement with either the operating rod or the coupler.

Another object is to provide a connection which may be hooked into the eye of the coupler lock lifter with the hooked member rod isthen mounted upon the car.

.with a non-rotative connection to the operating rod.

In a railway car the coupler operating rod 1 is mounted on the end sill 2 by brackets 3 and has a handle 4: atits outer end and a crank arm 5 extending over the coupler. The lock lifter 7 'Of the coupler 8 has a horizontally disposed eye 9. My invention resides in a connector for the crank arm to the lock lifter.

The connector comprises a hook member which is inserted through the eye of the lock lifter and a bar member is'then threaded into it so as to close the open portion of the hook. The bar member is then non-rotatively attached to the operating rod so asto prevent it from unscrewing. The operating In cer-' tain forms the non-rotative feature is inclependent of the operating rod.

In the formshown in Figs. 2 and 8 the bar 10 is threaded or screwed into the tapped arm 11 of the hook 12 and projects therethrough far enough to substantially close the open portion 13 of the hook so that it cannot become disengaged from the lock lifter 7. A shoulder 14 is provided on the bar 10 which restricts its longitudinal movement and prevents it from binding or interfering with the free relative movement of the hook 12 and the lock lifter 7 at 15). The longitudinal movement of the bar 10' may be restricted by omitting the shoulder 14 and stopping the threads'at such a point on the bar 10 that it cannot be threaded into thehook 12 further than a predetermined amount. In Fig. 2, for instance, the top of the threads in bar 10 would reach the top prevents it from unscrewing or backing out of the hook 12,]out this attachment also preferably provides a relative sliding arrange mentbetween the operating rod and t 1e bar. Any non-rotative attachments between the bar and the operating rod may be used and come within the scope of this invention. The hook is circular (with one portion open) having a center at lfi'which is in line with the longitudinal. axis of the bar so that there is no eccentric load on the device.

I claim:

1. In a device for operating a car coupler, the combination ofa coupler lock lifter having ancye, ahock engaging. said eye, a bar closingv the open portion of the hook and having a threaded engagement with the hook, and means to prevent the rotation of the bar whereby said bar and said book are retained in proper relative position.

2. Ina device. for operating a car coupler, the combination of a coupler lock litter having an eye,.a hook engaging said eye, a bar closing. the open portion of. the hook and having a threaded engagement with. the 100k and provided with a shoulder to re strict its longitudinal movement, and. means to prevent the rotation of the bar whereby said bar and said hook are retained inproper relative position.

3. In a devicetor. operatin a car coupler, the combination of a coupler lock lifter having an eye, a circular hook engaging said eye, and a bar closing the open portion of said hook and having a threaded engagement therewith, the center of said circular hook being in line with the longitudinal axis of said bar.

at. In combination with a-railway car pro vided with a coupler. and a coupler operating rod, a connector for said coupler and operating rod comprising. av member non-notatively engaged to said coupler, and another member non-rotatively engagec. to said operating rod, one or" said members being threaded into the other whereby. said members are retained in proper relative relation.

5. A connector for a railway car coupler, and its operating rod comprising an open hook, and a bar closing the open portion. of the hook and having a threaded engagement therewith, and means to prevent the rotation of the bar.

6. A connector for a railway car coupler, and its operating rod comprising an open hook, abar closing the open portion of the hook and having a threaded. engagement therewith and provided with a shoulder to restrict its longtudinal movement, and means to prevent the rotation of the bar.

'7. In arelease rigging for a car coupler, the combination of an operating rod, a coupler lock litter having an eye, a hook engagingsaid eye, and a bar closing the open portion of said hook and having a threaded en 'apen'ient with said hook, said bar having a ncnerotative en gagement. with i. said operating rod whereby saidlbal: andsaidIhook. are retained .in proper relative relation.

8. In. a releaserrigging. for a car. coupler, the combination of an: operating rod, acoupler lock litter having. an. eye, a. hookenvent: the rotationo'f. the; bar, said bar. operatively connected to the operating rod.

10., Ina release rigging for acar. coupler, the combination of alroperatingrod, a. conpler lock lifter liavinganeye,.anyopen. hook engaging. said. eye, a. bar closing. the open portion 01". said. hook. and having a. threaded engagement therewith, saidi bar. provided withv a shoulden torestrict its longitudinal movement, and means: to. prevent. the rota-- tion of. the bar, said bar. Operatifvely connected' to the operating; rod.

11. A connector. for arailway car coupler and its operating. rod,. comprising. an open book, and a. bar closing the openportionot the hook and havinga. threaded engagement therewith.

12. A connector. for. a railway car'coupler and its operating rod, comprisiwan n hook. and a bar closing the; open portion of the hook and havinga threadedengagement therewith and. provided with. a shoulder: to restrict its longitudinal movement.

ARTHUR SMALL.

till 

